Willemite

specimen number:
1052630

location:
Altenberg mine, Kelmis, Liege, Wallonia, Belgium

description:
Classic old time specimen from the type locality for the species. Crystallized willemite very rich throughout this matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video and has an acquisition date of 1908.

The Altenberg mine, also known as Vieille Montagne and located in Kelmis, Belgium, is the celebrated type locality for willemite. Geologically, this world-class non-sulfide zinc deposit was situated within the Moresnet district, where hydrothermal fluids replaced Devonian carbonate rocks with massive bodies of smithsonite and willemite. At this site, willemite typically occurs as granular, yellowish-grey to brownish masses, though it is the chemical and crystallographic identification here in 1829 that established it as a distinct mineral species named after King William I of the Netherlands. Historically, mining and quarrying at Altenberg date back to at least the 13th century, with intensive industrial exploitation occurring from the early 1800s through the late 19th century. The site was so valuable for its high-grade zinc ore that it led to the creation of the neutral territory of Moresnet, which existed for over a century due to border disputes. While the primary ore body was exhausted and large-scale mining operations officially ceased around 1884, the locality remains a cornerstone of European mineralogical history through 2026. Today, the site is a museum and protected area, representing the birth of the modern zinc industry and the official discovery of one of the most important zinc silicate minerals.

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